The surA-pdxA-rsmA-apaGH operon in E. coli contains five genes that are involved in various functions in the cell. DNA-binding protein Fis can bind to the promoter of this operon, allowing RNAP to bind and transcribe the operon. It can also bind to a promoter upstream of pdxA, and this promoter allows for transcription of the pdxA-rsmA transcription unit. The first gene, surA, encodes a chaperone protein that is involved in the proper folding of outer membrane proteins, and is essential for the formation of the bacteria's pilus. The second gene, pdxA, encodes for 4-hydroxythreonine-4-phosphate dehydrogenase, an envyme involved in the biosynthesis of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. The third gene, rsmA, encodes ribosomal RNA small subunit methyltransfeerase A, a protein that methylates 16S rRNA, and may be important in the formation of 30S subunits of rRNA. The fourth gene, apaG, produces a protein with currently unknown function. The final gene, apaH, produces diadenosine tetraphosphatase, which hydrolyzes diadenosine tetraphosphatase into two molecules of ADP.

Operon: 16S Ribosomal RNA Modification & Chaperone References